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Classic Old State House Wedding in Boston

I love calling Boston my city. It’s got a cozy kind of charm with all it’s historic buildings and quaint cobblestone streets tucked into a gorgeous harbor. And right there in the middle of it, sits the Old State House where these two lovebirds said their beautiful I do’s—the Bride holding her sweet peach garden rose bouquet from Winston Flowers and the Groom looking dapper in gray. Kelly Dillon documented the day with these breathtaking images—see it all here!

Colors
Settings
Eatery
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Romantic

From the beautiful Bride… Leo and I met actually a few blocks down from the Old State House at Bell in Hand (Americas oldest tavern). After 5 years together Leo proposed to me on a train we were taking down to Florida. Every year we would take a sleeper car down the east coast from Boston to Florida together. It was a perfect place to propose!

I really wanted our wedding to be relaxed and intimate. I liked the idea of having our ceremony in a historic building, and when we saw the old state house we fell in love with the space. I wanted the decor to be modern but have a vintage feel since we were getting married in a historic building. We wanted things polished but not perfect looking to leave things a bit more informal. I also wanted people to leave with few tokens. I like the idea of handkerchiefs for ceremony that could be useful and also great for everyone. I asked Leo to design the logo for our wedding, we used this on the handkerchiefs and we played off of the coat of arms, lion an unicorn that is on the old state house. If you look at the time on these it is set to 5:30, the time of our ceremony. I also used the lions for the escort cards.

Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography | Floral Design: Winston Flowers | Wedding Dress: BHLDN | Ceremony: Old State House Boston | Ceremony Venue: Old State House Boston | Reception Venue: Mistral Bistro | Shoes: BHLDN | Makeup: Tryst Studio | Hair: Stacey Kuehn

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Romantic Boston Skyline Wedding

A stylish and cosmopolitan affair, this next celebration is one lovely tribute. For when planning their Big Day this pair wanted to honor beautiful Boston, the city they live in and love. From their fabulous first dance straight from the lens of Long Haul Films and every moment in between (including a few lightening bolts) it’s all waiting for you in the gallery!

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Industrial
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Modern

From the beautiful Bride… When my husband and I got engaged we knew very little about weddings or wedding planning. I had only attended a couple family weddings and my husband a few friends, so we started this process with the naiveté it takes to either create something really unique or totally screw it up. Luckily, with the help of family and friends I believe we achieved the former.

We got engaged in March of 2013, one month before the Boston Marathon bombings. Both of us attended the marathon that day and our hearts ached for those directly impacted by what transpired. We also watched as people banded together around the victims and their loved ones and were so moved by the residents of the great city of Boston. At the time we were on our wedding venue search and when we saw the State Room and its views of the city skyline we knew it was the place for us. We owe Boston a great deal, as it is the city we met, the city we’ve made our home and the city we’ve built our careers. We wanted our wedding to be an ode to Boston and that was at the core of every decision we made.

Tributes to the city were included every detail; including our invitations, our rehearsal dinner (which was held at the Old State House) and through our color palette of gray, white and gold. In lieu of favors we made a donation to the world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I also decided to let my bridesmaids choose their own gray gowns. They are all so unique and I didn’t feel right putting them in matching dresses. Similar to buildings in a city skyline, the individual dresses looked even more beautiful when grouped together.

We also wanted our wedding to convey who we are as a couple even behind closed doors. An important part of that is dancing. Chase and I are not trained dancers by any stretch but we love it and tend to dance in that “pretend like no one is watching” way. Whether at other weddings or in our living room alone it’s important part of who we are as a couple so we really wanted to showcase this on our big day. We practiced for months and performed a dance to Phillip Phillips “Gone, Gone, Gone.” It was definitely one of the highlights of the day for us.

You can never predict the weather but we never thought it would be 100 degrees on our September wedding, of course it was. And as the ominous dark clouds rolled in we thought the thunderstorms and hurricane winds were going to put a huge damper on our day. Someone must’ve been looking out for us because we made it to the State Room just in time to watch a beautiful lightning storm from the very top of Boston’s skyline. What’s that they say about good luck and rain? There has to be some meaning behind thunder and lightning, right?

I could go on and on about our day but I wanted to share a post from our videographer as I believe she captured the day perfectly.

From Melissa Dowler at Long Haul FilmsI’m going to apologize up front, because I’m about to play blatant favorites. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t pretend. This was one of my favorite weddings of the season to film. In fact, this might have been one of my favorite weddings I’ve ever filmed. Of all time, hands down, drop the mic. BOOM.

The reason is because Jess and Chase are, well, pretty much awesome. In their business lives, Jess and Chase are creators, innovators, entrepreneurs, drivers of change in their community. On a personal level, they are two of the most authentic, funny, smart and high energy people you’ll ever meet. Just being around Jess and Chase gives you good vibes.

Full disclosure, before the wedding we already knew these two pretty well, especially Chase who is a commercial client we film with almost every week (not sick of us yet, are you Chase?) So we thought we had a pretty good handle on what their wedding day would be like. We knew it would be fun and light-hearted. We knew it would be stylish and cosmopolitan. We expected there would be a lot of epic dancing. All that was true, and then some (more blatant favoritism: BEST. FIRST. DANCE. EVER.). Beyond all of that, what this wedding also had, and what made it so incredibly wonderful to film, was HEART.

Jess and Chase, thanks not only for having us film your wedding, but for challenging us to create something different and unique, to reflect who you two are. We can’t wait to see you conquer the world together.

Photography: Zev Fisher Photography | Floral Design: Fleur De Lis By Charlotte | Wedding Dress: Reem Acra | Wedding Cake: I Dream of Jeanne Cakes | Invitations: An Elegant Affair | Ceremony Venue: Arlington Street Church | Reception Venue: State Room: A Longwood Venue | Hair And Makeup: Nicole's Salon | DJ: Nuimage Entertainment | Video: Long Haul Films

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
SMP Blogger Bride Contributor: Meet Jessye!

You’ve followed her style musings on her infamously chic blog, City Tonic, and now that she’s rocking a left hand ring Jessye is joining the SMP ranks as our newest Blogger Bride. She’ll be sharing the ins and outs, ups and downs, and everything in between on her road to merry matrimony. Scroll below and read on to get to know Jessye a wee bit better!

From the beautiful Bride-to-be… Hello, Style Me Pretty brides! I’m so excited to share my wedding planning adventures over the next few months as SMP’s newest blogger bride! I’m a Boston-based art director/designer and a style blogger at citytonic.com – So, I’ll be writing about bridal fashion and accessories, plus offering some creative ideas for stationary, favors and more. This September, I’m marrying my best friend and the love of my life, Kevin, on Martha’s Vineyard (woohoo!).

My first official post felt like the perfect opportunity to share a few favorites from our engagement session with the amazingly talented (and fellow blogger Bride) Cambria Grace. We had so much fun walking around Beacon Hill (where our relationship began!) on a pretty spring evening—taking in the neighborhood’s historic charm and a stunning rooftop view of the city.

I met Kevin in December of 2011 when I was working at a Boston ad agency that was known for throwing legendary holiday parties every year. At the time, Kevin had just moved to Boston from Hawaii (by way of Australia… lucky guy) and was working for the event company that happened to be planning our agency’s holiday soirée. I had noticed him around the office and jokingly told my co-workers that I thought he was cute. So, the day after the party, one of them slipped Kevin my business card (unbeknownst to me) as he was leaving. An hour later, I received a text saying: “Hey, it’s Kev!”… and I figured I might as well take a chance, even though I had never gone on a date with a total stranger before. I tried to play it cool and suggested we grab a casual weeknight dinner in Beacon Hill. A few days later, I found myself seated across from Kevin in a cozy neighborhood restaurant and immediately knew I was with someone special.

Fast forward three years, it was pouring rain on Christmas Eve and I had just gone to the gym and grocery store after a half day at work. I told Kevin I’d be home by 3:00, but I ended up doing some last-minute holiday shopping and got home two hours later than promised. I was drenched, exhausted and juggling too many grocery bags when I opened our apartment door and realized all the lights were off. There were about 200 votive candles in our living room and every surface was covered in rose petals. Our dog, Oscar, was lying on the sofa nonchalantly—but there was no sign of Kevin.

I was standing immobile in the doorway, still holding my gym bag and groceries, when he finally walked into the room looking very dapper and carrying a beautiful bouquet. He literally had to instruct me to close the door and drop my bags because I was in some crazy state of shock! Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Sadly, he had planned to film the whole thing with his GoPro, but the battery died because I arrived so late! Still—despite the snags—the proposal was more perfect than I could have imagined. I loved that it was just the two of us (plus Oscar!) in our cozy apartment. Afterwards, we celebrated at my parents’ house (they were in on the whole plan!) with champagne and an amazing Christmas Eve dinner.

I’m so excited to share this amazing wedding planning journey with you – we’re in this together! Until next time!

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Jessye's Blazer: Rent The Runway | Jessye's Dress (look 1): Rent The Runway | Jessye's Dress (look 2): Rent The Runway | Jessye's Shoes (look 1): M.Gemi "Cammeo" Pumps | Jessye's Shoes (look 2): Saint Laurent | Kevin's Jacket: J.Crew | Kevin's Shirt: Blank Label

Jessye Aibel

Blogger Bride
Classic Boston Engagement Session

This darling duo took to the streets of downtown Boston near their home for this engagement session, and couldn’t possibly look any more in love. Can you tell we’re also totally smitten with the beautiful Bride-to-be’s adorable tulle ballerina skirt?! Check out all the pics from SMP fave, Ruth Eileen, and see every adorable angle here!

From Photographer Ruth Eileen … The shoot began at their home on Bay State road, as so much of their relationship “firsts” have taken place on the four short blocks that are Bay State Road – It is where they met (their freshman dorm at Boston University), had their first kiss, first said “I love you”, and where they are currently sharing their first apartment.

We continued on to Boston’s South End to spend some time visiting two of their favorite cafes, South End Buttery and Gaslight. One of their favorite weekend activities is to go out for brunch. For the past few years, they have been going to Gaslight for brunch almost every Saturday and The South End Buttery almost every Sunday. After brunch, they love to leisurely wander around the South End’s cute neighborhoods and fantasize about one day owning their own brownstone overlooking Union Park.

Photography: Ruth Eileen Photography | Restaurant: Gaslight | Restaurant: South End Buttery | Skirt: Alexandra Grecco

Join Us Tomorrow! West Elm + Style Me Pretty Pop-up

New Englanders, the time has come to celebrate in true SMP style. We’ve partnered up with West Elm Fenway and we’re inviting YOU to join the revelry THIS SATURDAY! Come share the day and meet our very own Abby Larson, a few fabulous local wedding vendors, and get tips on registering. Join us on Saturday, May 2nd from 12pm – 3pm, click here to learn more and be sure to RSVP!

Meet with local vendors like Mayflour ConfectionsRuth Eileen PhotographyBlackbird DoughnutsLauren Wells Design + Stylingand Petal Floral Design! You won’t want to miss out on the festivities, we promise it’ll be an afternoon filled with fun + fabulousness. See YOU there!

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ONGOING GIVEAWAYS…

Minted
Doie Lounge
Patina
Doie Lounge

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This week’s DISCOUNTS…

Squarespace
Zola
Starwood Hotels & Resorts

For our California Brides… Giveaways from Silver Time Studios and Rime Arodaky, and discount from Marmalade Sky Films 

For our Midwest Brides… Discount from WASIO photography

For our Southeast Brides… Giveaway from Rime Arodaky

For our Mid-Atlantic Brides… Discount from Goodstone Inn & Restaurant 

For our Tri-State Brides… Discount from IM Photo Studio and giveaways from Rime Arodaky

For our Australian Brides… Discount from Linneys and don’t miss the “Carats & Couture” exhibition going until May 2, 2015!

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And our WINNERS…

Congratulations to our Jenny Yoo winner Mariteremilan!

Congratulations to our Sweet Whistle winner Caroline!

Modern Boston Public Library Wedding

When I lived in Boston, I used to walk past the Boston Public Library on Saturdays in hopes of catching a Bride walk out of that gorgeous building. And spotting a wedding like this one from Corinna Raznikov would have made my entire week. Gorgeously classic and elegant in all the right ways, this gallery is just everything

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From Corinna Raznikov PhotographyEmily and Ben met in their freshman year of college at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. After cultivating a friendship for three years, they began dating in their senior year and fell deeply in love. After graduation they both moved to Boston and found a strong connection with the city and eventually moved-in together; finally, Ben proposed on an autumn night in front of Boston Harbor.

Having such a passion for the beauty and history of the city, Emily and Ben chose the Boston Public Library as their wedding venue and worked together with James Hansen of the Catered Affair to produce their dream wedding. They had their expectations far exceeded and were overjoyed by how well everything turned out; right down to the tiniest of details.

Emily and Ben did a beautiful job of combining their styles and efforts to plan this modern, fresh wedding. They had so many incredible moments in their wedding from surprising their wedding party and families with a ride on a classic Boston Duck Boat to the Boston Commons, to surprising one of the groomsmen with a personalized cake for his birthday, to Emily walking down the aisle to the song “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory performed by a melodious string quartet from C-Zone entertainment.

The rain that day set a romantic, mysterious, and almost Parisian setting outside in the library’s courtyard. The couple were married under huge white umbrellas in front of the bronze cast fountain which lit up and spouted as they shared their first kiss. Mimosa, an incredible florist, did such a great job not only on the bouquets of soft pink flowers with lovely hints of dusty miller, but also on the amazing centerpieces with hydrangea, orchids and more dusty miller ( I LOVE the addition of this soft fuzzy little leaf in arrangement) atop stacked books to celebrate the venue.

Try and hear that song “Pure Imagination” song from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory in your head as you feast your eyes on this magic…

Come with me
And you’ll be
In a world of
Pure imagination
Take a look
And you’ll see
Into your imagination

Photography: Corinna Raznikov Photography | Videographer: Timothy Bakland | Florist: Mimosa Fresh Flower Design | Cake: Cakes for Occasions | Invitations: Paper Source | Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Caterer: The Catered Affair | Makeup: Charlotte Phinney | Hair: G2O - Dailin Davila | Band: Sultans Of Swing | Venue: Boston Public Library | Bride's Dress: Augusta Jones | Men's Tuxes: Vera Wang | Programs: Wedding Paper Divas

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Abby Capalbo

Design, Styling, Parties
Elegant Wedding in the Boston Public Library

Weddings that give us a little peek into the personalities of the couple saying “I do” always rank among my favorite. And when they happen to take place at the gorgeous Boston Public Library, that’s just a beautiful bonus. Hello Love Photography gave us a look into this oh-so-special day for this lovely couple, and thanks to vendors like The Catered AffairBeat Train Productions and Tables And Tulips I’m pretty sure everything little thing was perfect. See even more here.

From the beautiful Bride… Kyle and I met for the first time when we were both interviewing for medical school. We went to the same undergraduate university, but had never met before then. We dated for the remainder of senior year before leaping into a long-distance relationship during medical school, and we finally tied the knot as we were about to graduate.

One of our favorite things to do over the years when we would visit each other is to eat! We love food, and spent a lot of time trying out new recipes and going to great restaurants. And as students, we inevitably spent the other majority of our time studying together – at home, at coffee shops, and at the library. Therefore, when we were looking for a wedding venue, we wanted a place that reflected the “nerdy foodies” that we are – so the Boston Public Library was a perfect fit. From the moment we saw the beautifully designed plates presented by the Catered Affairs in a magazine, we knew that we had to visit the library’s courtyard restaurant. After our experience, we knew we were in expert hands that are not only devoted to the taste but are creative culinary artists.

Not only was the library a place of intellect, it also spoke to my background in Architectural Engineering and Kyle’s love of history. The BPL is architecturally stunning with its classical Italian style atrium courtyard with its iconic columns, arches, and marble. With its status as the first large free municipal library in the U.S. and recognition as a national historic landmark, it is any history buff’s dream.

When designing the details of our wedding, we wanted a wedding that was elegant, romantic and intimate, that reflected who we were, as well as who we are now. The menu was picked to combine our Texas roots, with accents of BBQ pulled pork and breakfast tacos, with our current New England living with a touch of lobster bisque and wedding favors from Boston institution, Mike’s Pastry.

The wedding cake is a nod to our months spent in Sicily during a summer of medical school where the specialty dessert was the Sette Veli, which was also the cake Kyle had proposed with. We wanted an intimate affair with our closest family and friends who have been with us through the worst and the best, have seen us grow over the years and supported us in our pursuits. We hoped that our celebration would reflect the characteristics that are unique to us and shows our appreciation for our guests.

Photography: Hello Love Photography | Floral Design: Table & Tulip | Catering: The Catered Affair | Makeup: Amanda McCarthy Beauty | DJ: Beat Train Productions | Venue: Boston Public Library

Boston Marathon Survivor + Nurse Tie the Knot

When this Boston Marathon bombing survivor fell in love with his recovery nurse at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a wedding in the city that brought them together – even under the worst of circumstances – only felt fitting. They called on their favorite local vendors for a summer celebration at the Hyatt Regency Boston, and the result was a day of love and triumph over tragedy all captured by Prudente Photographers. Scroll below for the must-watch clip by I Do Films and beautiful words straight from the Bride.

From The Bride… Our fairytale wedding was a whirlwind. While our start was hardly a fairytale beginning, James and I still reel in the love that we feel for each other, the love that we feel from the city of Boston and all of those that came together to make our dreams come true. We wed a little over a year after my now husband headed to the Boston Marathon finish line with five childhood friends. A Boston Marathon bombing survivor, James and I met while he was receiving treatment at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. We instantly connected.

Coming together in a mere six months, our wedding was coordinated and held at Hyatt Regency Boston and tended to by top, Boston-area vendors. The morning of the wedding, we headed over to G2o Spa + Salon via Uber. G20 styled us to perfection with soft, sophisticated, side swept, up-style and natural, dewy and sun-kissed make-up that set the tone for a captivating smoky eye. MiniLuxe continued the pampering with manis and pedis with their Boston-inspired polishes. My bridesmaids donned navy LulaKate Pearl dresses compliments of Bella Bridesmaid and I wore an Allure Couture gown from Bella Sera Bridal Boutique.

James didn’t look so bad himself! He dazzled in a custom-made, two button, navy, Brooks Brothers suit, a made-to-measure option that was proudly made in Haverhill, MA. Our gentlemen and groomsmen were dressed personally by menswear designer and chief creative director of Men’s Wearhouse, Joseph Abboud! 

We exchanged vows on Hyatt Regency Boston’s outdoor Nantucket terrace overlooking the cityscape of Boston. James surprised me with gorgeous, sweeping linens from Design Light Co. that flowed above us during the ceremony. The light breeze seemed to highlight the feeling of love in the air, as Carol Merletti of Wedding of Your Desire, our officiant and main supporter of our marriage from the start, married us. We wanted our day to be as intimate as possible, a marriage of our individual tastes as well as a focus on our life together, past and present. We opted for an elegant Nantucket theme, because that is where we spent so much of our time. 

The vision was honed by wedding planner Rachael Gross of lolagraceEVENTS, who married navy and silver accents and took our visions and made them real. New England Country Rentals executed our fairytale vision with top-tier products to include platinum accents of stunning silver-rimmed tableware and knotted flatware. Ryan Designs, The Fine Print and Design Light Co., provided integral décor and design elements. Goosefish Press personalized hand-fed, antique letterpress invitations with a classic script and vintage-inspired engraved font with inks mixed by hand. Custom design day-of stationery, signage and custom logo were provided by Lynn Graham Designs featuring whimsical calligraphy by The Fine Print.

Even the flowers were symbolic of our theme: Blooms of Hope’s imaginative, seafaring and romantic floral arrangements perfectly enhanced the day in a show of protection, pure love, beauty and strength. My aunt’s business Twisted Stems, provided my bouquet and incorporated a piece of my mother’s wedding dress into the design!

After the ceremony we retired to an intimate reception and cocktail hour in Hyatt Regency Boston’s Adrienne Salon and Grand Ballroom. Crooner Antonio Cassisi wowed with Italian sounds during cocktail hour. Which was my absolute favorite – it was so romantic! The best part of the wedding is that I get to relive it each day! Prudente Photography’s gorgeous photos encompassed the emotion and personality of the day and videographer, I Do Films, told our storyline to perfection, looking for the beautiful moments and setting them in perfect arrangement. A wedding is a day that brides and grooms treasure forever—to us that is an understatement. We will forever love and cherish all of those who made our special dream come true.

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Photography: Prudente Photographers | Videographer : I Do Films | Wedding Planner: LolagraceEVENTS | Floral Design: Blooms Of Hope | Wedding Dress: Bella Sera Bridal Boutique | Cake: Montilio's | Invitations: Goosefish Press | Calligraphy: Fine Print Calligraphy | DJ: DJ Chris Roxx | Grooms Attire: Brooks Brothers | Transportation: Old Town Trolley | Transportation : Uber | Hotel: Hyatt Regency Boston | Beauty Services Hair And Makeup: G20 Spa + Salon | Beverage: Samuel Adams | Bouquet & Boutonniere: Hope Stanley | Bridal Jewelry: M. Flynn | Bridesmaid Gowns: Bella Bridesmaid | Champagne Vendor: Cupcake Vineyards | Custom Signage And Couple's Monogram: Lynn Graham Designs | Dance Lessons: Arthur Murray Dance Studios | Event Decor: Ryan Designs | Groomsmen's Custom-made Suits : 9tailors | Honeymoon: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort And Spa | Honeymoon: The Grand Hyatt Kauai | Honeymoon: Andaz Maui At Wailea | Justice Of The Peace: Wedding Of Your Desire | Musician: Rob Flax | Musician: Eric Law | Nail Design : MiniLuxe | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: TRADE | Renowned Tenor & Crooner: Antonio Cassisi | Rentals: New England Country Rentals | Shoes, Ties And Dress Shirts For The Groomsmen Donated By: Men's Wearhouse | Spirits : Bacardi | Unity Sculpture: Unity In Glass | Wedding Design Elements: DesignLightCo. | Wine Vendor: Terlato Family Vineyards

How To: Dutch Inspired Floral Arrangements

Oh the Dutch and their still life. They know a thing or two about painting gorgeous arrangements and now Calico Floriculture & Design is bringing those florals to life. Captured by Cambria Grace, this simple how to walks you through the steps of crafting an elegant, bountiful Spring arrangement complete with a list of must have florals. Click here for more.

From Calico Floriculture & Design Dutch floral still life paintings provide much inspiration for arrangements filled with various colors and textures. If you look back to the paintings of Dutch artists during the Golden Age you will find a wild and luscious floral style.

Materials

  • Peach and Yellow Icelandic Poppies
  • Peach, White, and Pink Ranunculus
  • Blue and Red Anemones
  • Purple Hellebores
  • Seeded Eucalyptus
  • Blue Muscari
  • Orange Butterfly Flower
  • White Daffodils
  • Red Tulips

instructions

step-1First begin, filling your vessel with some base green foliage. I like to use greenery that grows around farm such as cedar, eastern hemlock, spruce, and juniper branches.

step-2You will notice that Dutch still life floral paintings tend to be filled with many different kinds of flowers, this is the fun part! Collect many different sizes, shapes and colors to work with. Notice I have chosen a peach Icelandic Poppy to be a main focal point in the arrangement. I like to choose one or two large flowers so either a poppy, garden rose, large ranunculus, or even a dahlia to be the spotlight flower which I will place off center. I generally never want to place a large flower right in the center because it will then draw too much attention.

step-3Once I have my base foliage and large core flowers selected and placed, I begin to build up the arrangement. I start off with shorter stemmed flowers then move out from there. To mimic the Dutch style, I want to make sure to not leave too many empty spaces. I want to create a full and lush arrangement perfect for spring.

Photography: Cambria Grace Photography | Floral Design: Calico Floriculture & Design | Venue: Ceremony | Ceramics: Meghan Flynn

Elegant Fall Wedding at The Boston Public Library

I’ll never get sick of weddings at the Boston Public Library, every single one makes me downright giddy. There is something about the building that elevates any and every celebration and this elegant fall wedding is a perfect example. With rich jewel tones and a regal air about the whole affair, not to mention the amazing menus from The Catered Affair, this soiree makes me love the venue even more. BKB & Co. captured it all and these pics are just pure magic.

From BKB & CoOne of the most sought-after Boston wedding venues has become the Boston Public Library. And it’s no wonder! The BPL has just about everything a couple would want – stunning spaces, a central location, rich in history, and I have to say, a terrific place to have unbelievable wedding photos! That’s why I was thrilled to be a part of Brett and David’s wedding at the BPL. There’s nothing like a fall wedding in downtown Boston – especially Copley Square!

Brett, a physician, certainly has brains and beauty! She looked absolutely beautiful in her gown by David Tutera. The lace overlay on the bodice was simply gorgeous! The bride carried a bouquet of deep red calla lilies designed by Table & Tulip. That beautiful red color was also carried throughout the event. David looked handsome in a traditional tuxedo and black bow tie from Alabaster & Chess.

Most of the wedding planning was done by Brett’s mother. She did a beautiful job creating an intimate, romantic evening. The reception was held in the beautiful Guastavino Room. There were retro and vintage elements scattered throughout the night, such as the card catalogs, which everyone LOVED! But she also incorporated some modern touches such as up-lighting by Boston Uplights, a candy display, a cigar roller, and cupcakes by I Dream of Jeanne. The best modern touch of all, though, was the bride’s gown change. Yes, you read that right! Brett changed into the most stunning gold reception dress. Not only was it beautiful, but it fit her like a glove. Simply gorgeous!

Catering was provided by the famed Catered Affair, who is the exclusive caterer for BPL. Oh, and did I mention the clever Gray’s Anatomy book placed on the table with Brett’s medical school friends that each guest could sign. How cute is that?

Brett and David are wonderful, down to earth people. In fact, they simply joined with their guests as they entered the reception! I loved the fabulous toasts by the Maid of Honor and Best Man. It was also lovely to hear Brett’s father speak of how proud he was of his daughter. So sweet!

At the end of the day, this wedding was truly about friends and family gathering to support this beautiful couple and enjoy a super-fabulous and elegant dinner party.

Photography: BKB & Co. | Floral Design: Table & Tulip | Wedding Dress: David Tutera | Cupcakes: I Dream of Jeanne Cakes | Invitations: Paper Source | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Waters Creek | Catering: The Catered Affair | Lighting: Boston Uplights | Band: Night Shift Entertainment | Groom's Attire: Alabaster & Chess | Wedding Venue: Boston Public Library | Cigar Roller : Boston Cigar Factory | Photography Studio Location: Bkh Photo

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
Traditionally Elegant Wedding at the Boston Public Library

What happens when you combine an elegant affair with one show-stopping venue (I’m looking at you, Boston Public Library)? I’ll tell you, wedded bliss. Especially when the combined talents of C-Zone MusicThe Catered Affair, and Winston Flowers are behind the scenes ensuring stunning results. One glimpse at the gorgeous gallery captured by Melissa Robotti and we’re positively smitten. More here!

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From the beautiful Bride… When we first stepped into The Boston Public Library’s historic Dartmouth wing we knew we had found our perfect wedding venue. We loved the regal atmosphere, the beautiful courtyard, and the intimate popular reading room. When we found out that our ideal date, the Summer Solstice, was available we immediately reserved the spot and started planning out the steps to make our dream wedding a reality.

The Catered Affair offered an amazing assortment of food. We loved their tasting dinner so much we went back a second time 3 months later! We selected a delicious cake encompassing two flavors: carrot cake and lemon summer berry torte.

As the date approached, everything fell into place. We worked with our florist to pick out a modern and elegant floral theme that played off of aubergine, one of my favorite colors. My mother and sister flew in to help me pick out my dress from Monique Lhuiller. My husband and I spent hours listening to potential songs and settled on “I Choose You” by Sara Bareilles for our First Dance.

The Boston cityscape around Copley Square was the ideal location for our first look photos. We got ready at the Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel and used the surrounding old buildings as the backdrop for our photos. We’re so happy that we set aside time for this intimate moment to ourselves and then still had plenty of time to take photos with our wedding party and family before the wedding.

Our ceremony was perfect. Our best friends and family filled the courtyard and my brother-in-law was our light-hearted yet emotionally touching officiant. We had a great time listening to our families’ heartfelt speeches during dinner and then enjoyed dancing the night away. We finally made our exit and walked down the steps of the library into Boston’s summer night with our friends cheering us on.

The next day we packed our bags for our honeymoon in Turkey and Greece and prepared to move to the West Coast to start our married life!

Photography: Melissa Robotti Photography | Videography: Boston Wedding Film | Floral Design: Winston Flowers | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bride's Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Ann Taylor | Catering: Boston Public Library | Hair & Makeup: Wedding Tresses, Inc | DJ: C-Zone Entertainment | Groom's Attire: 9tailors | Wedding Venue: Boston Public Library | Earrings: Swarovski | Wedding Rings: Tiffany & Co.

Boston Engagement Session

Taking advantage of the warmer-than-usual Boston weather (think 75 degrees in October), these two cuties frolicked around the city like it was no one’s business.  The result?  Pure, unadulterated magic captured by the always amazing Brumley & Wells.  Imagine light-filled images, breathtaking cityscapes and a gallery filled to the brim with awesomeness.  Join me there for more.  

From the Bride… My name is Lindsey, and these photos are from an engagement session that my fiance Josh and I shot this fall with the amazing Jacob of Brumley and Wells.The shoot took place in various places across Boston, which is not only the city we live in, but also where Josh proposed this past August. So when Jacob told us he was going to be in town in October for a wedding, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to shoot some engagement photos with him in our favorite city.

Josh and I met while attending college together at the University of Vermont and became fast friends, but it wasn’t until the summer before our Junior year where we really became inseparable and starting dating. I thought he was a pretty cute Vermonter and he thought I was the coolest masshole he’d ever met. That also happened to be the summer that Josh got his dog Mac, so he gives Mac’s adorable puppy face all the credit for finally getting us together, which is something that I argue with, but don’t 100% disagree with! Then, after getting jobs in different cities after school (me in Boston and him in Vermont), we survived a long distance dating stint of nearly two years before Josh, Mac and I finally moved into our apartment in Boston together. A year later, Josh proposed while we were on a boat ride along the Charles river on the most perfect, warm August night. We laughed, cried, snuggled while watching the sunset, and then he rushed me back to our apartment where all of our closest friends and family were waiting to celebrate with us. It was, without a doubt, the best day of my life.

Josh and I both work at ecommerce companies in Boston and also run the Boston lifestyle blog Mac & Marlborough (www.macandmarlborough.com). Of course, we are also busy planning our wedding, which will take place next August in Westport, MA. As excited as I am for the big day, I’m that much more excited to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. He has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever known. And those baby blues don’t hurt, either.

We had a bit of an Indian summer this year in Boston, and the day of our engagement shoot was no different. Even though it was late October, it was sunny and around 75 degrees when we started taking photos in the afternoon. Fall weather in New England can be a bit unpredictable, so we really couldn’t have gotten luckier.

The shoot started in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood on Marlborough Street where we live. From there, we moved across the street to the Boston Public Garden, which is also a place where Josh, Mac and I spend a lot of time together and we like to think of as “our backyard.” The willow trees around the garden pond are so dreamy, so it was so much fun to twirl around underneath them and take some photos. Our last spot of the day was on the Long Wharf pier in the Seaport, which was a spot Jacob had scouted out the day prior to our shoot. We hopped in a cab and raced through the (always horrific) Boston traffic to get there right as the sun was starting to go down. And once we had run laughing (and sweating) all the way down to the end of the pier, we took advantage of the warm breeze, the boats coming in and out of the harbor behind us, and the setting sun. Such a beautiful spot.

Jacob did such an amazing job at making us feel comfortable and capturing us in a natural, candid way. Looking through these photos makes us that much more excited for our wedding next summer!

Photography: Brumley & Wells | Dresses: Free People | Flower Crown: The Honeycomb

SMP New England Welcomes Our Advertisers + A Discount!

The perfect cure for a snowy New England weekend?  A whole lot of pretty from BKB & Co., the talented team of photography and cinematography geniuses that know everything there is to know about capturing your big day, and capturing it perfectly.  From their exceptional attention to detail to their amazing customer service to the breathtaking images you’ll receive post-wedding, they’re amazing.

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From BKB & Co.BKB & Co. is a select team of Boston wedding photographers and cinematographers specializing exclusively in weddings. Our wedding professionals are not only recognized in the industry, but also among wedding clients for our tremendous attention to detail from the moment of inquiry through the final product delivery and thereafter. Our studio was built on a simple motto – to capture each wedding as if it were our own. We are professionals at what we do and believe your wedding should be all about you enjoying your day and stress-free. We understand and value the importance of image capture and ensure your wedding photos stay timeless for you and your family for generations to come.

Founder and Creative Director Brittany K. Blando attended both the New England School of Photography and the College of Art and Design at Lesley University before opening her namesake studio in 2002. Throughout her education, Brittany developed a true passion for photographing weddings. The wedding scene in the Greater Boston area has always been vibrant and diverse, making it an exciting arena to be in. She is extremely sought-after in the New England area, even capturing the wedding of Professional Hockey Player Scott Clemmensen, beauty queen Amanda Kelly and Musician Eric Welsh of the band The Pixies. Her style is editorial imagery with photojournalistic flair, which is a style most requested by area engaged couples. Her talented work, impeccable customer service and quick turn-around time has proven to be why her studio is so highly regarded in New England.

To greater meet the needs of local couples, Brittany launched BKB & Co. in 2013 and expanded the studio’s services with the addition of talented wedding photography and wedding videography professionals. This brilliant team has taken the area by storm and has helped BKB become one of the top wedding services in all of New England. This team is truly a cohesive unit – working on weddings together and focusing on unparalleled customer service, flawless product and stellar turn-around time. Our team members are exclusive to our studio alone and have been personally trained by Brittany to provide our clientele with the images they have come to love and along with the personalized customer service the studio is known to provide.

Most recently, BKB announced the addition of a bridal stylist to the staff. With so many small details needed to be attended to on a wedding day, BKB’s bridal stylist will work alongside the BKB team to ensure any issues that may come up over the course of a wedding are resolved quickly, efficiently, and stress-free for the couple. A “day-of assistant” if you will, our stylist will handle many logistics that can sometimes overwhelm a couple or be a distraction on such a milestone day. For instance, she will distribute and pin boutonnieres and corsages, adjust your bridal gown for wedding photos, help keep the wedding day timeline on schedule, gather important individuals for photos, bustle your gown and of course, carry your favorite lipstick so you will always have it on hand throughout the day. Logistics aside, she will also be there to hold your hand and give you a shoulder to rely on.

We recommended you book the studio well-in-advance as our talented professionals have quickly become the talk in the Boston wedding scene.

BKB & Co. is located in historic Charlestown. Complimentary Garage parking available for our clients, a dock out back if you prefer to come by water taxi and of course the MBTA ferry drops in the Navy Yard.

DISCOUNT! Reserve your wedding with both the BKB & Co. photography and cinematography team and receive 5% off your contract and your choice of an Engagement Session in Charlestown Navy Yard or album upgrade!*

*Exclusive offer for SMP readers, available for new clients until April 30th, 2015 for weddings taking place in Boston, MA 2015 – 2016.

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Welcome to the family, BKB & Co.!  We are so happy to have you! xo

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Elegant Winter Boston State Room Wedding

We’re officially saying farewell to the winter season today, but not before we indulge in a slice of this New England affair from Kelly Dillon at Boston’s elegant State Room. It’s modern with a hint of preppy chic, but still has classic written all over it, from the Bride’s Amsale dress from White Dress By The Shore to her striped ‘maids to the touches of hot pink and ivory in the bouquets by Greenlion Design. See it all here and make sure you press play on that gorgeous film from Long Haul Films.

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From the beautiful Bride…Nick and I grew up just 30 minutes away from each other but did not meet until we were freshmen at Boston College. We did, to quote one of many great toasts from the night of our wedding, “the coolest thing any college freshman could do – joined the marching band.” And we are glad we did, because our friendship grew to a romance and Nick proposed at a favorite spot on campus seven years later.

We knew we wanted a classic New England wedding and initially thought for us this would be a nautical affair somewhere on the water. However the first venue we visited after our engagement was the State Room atop 60 State Street, and the moment we stepped into the Great Room the view took our breath away. It was clear that our classic New England wedding would instead be a city affair. We chose a date in late December which not only helped to keep our wedding within budget, but also allowed friends and family who traveled from as far as Paris to celebrate with us to coordinate their trip with being home for the holidays.

We never chose a theme or colors for our wedding but instead chose things we loved and that felt like “us” using blogs like Style Me Pretty for ideas and inspiration. First for me was a simple Amsale ballgown with pockets from The White Dress by the Shore. Next were the black and ivory striped bridesmaids dresses. Then we started putting together our team of vendors… To create a wintery but not Christmas feel, Kim from Greenlion Weddings created garlands of cedar and seeded eucalyptus to drape on our escort card and sweetheart tables and filled the reception space with mercury glass votives. Li from Fat Orange Cat Studio calligraphed beautiful escort cards on kraft paper for each of our guests and also created a chalkboard wedding “program” that we displayed at both our ceremony and cocktail hour. Finally, I surprised Nick the day of our wedding with “bean” cufflinks in honor of our Boston wedding.

Perhaps the most special part of the day for us was getting to spend it with the amazing Kelly Dillon and Long Haul Films. Thank you Kelly, Melissa, Megan, and Mia for capturing our day so perfectly!

Photography: Kelly Dillon Photography | Videography: Long Haul Films | Florist: Greenlion | Wedding Dress: Amsale | Invitations: Gus & Ruby Letterpress | Ceremony: Church Of Saint Ignatius Of Loyola | Reception: State Room: A Longwood Venue | Jewelry: Tiffany & Co. | Bridesmaids: Kate Spade | Makeup: Dani Wagener Beauty | Hair: Jennifer Tawa | Calligraphy: Li Ward | Favors: Modern Pastry | Groom's Attire: Brooks Brothers | Groomsmen's Attire: Men's Wearhouse | Bridal Boutique: The White Dress by the shore | Bride Shoes: Badgley Mischka | Veil: Country Weddings Bridal Boutique

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here
This Firefighter Pulled Off the Proposal of a Lifetime!

Valentine’s is still half a week away, but around these parts we’re already in the full romantic spirit. And thanks to one Boston firefighter who planned the cutest proposal EVER, we’re spending our morning swept up and teary eyed in the captures straight from First Mate Photo. What started as a gorgeous party put together by Lauren Wells Events and Pollen Floral Design, ended in a “Will you marry me?” when the ultimate party crasher came in through the window. Spoiler alert: she said yes!

From The Bride…A month earlier I was sitting on my best friend’s stoop and she said we ought to have a party and I would help her co-host, little did I know I was helping her to plan the proposal! Hours before our guests are set to arrive, she confirms the time, and Mike tells me he has been detailed over to another fire house, one that I know does not relieve early. So he will be late to the party.

I go on up to Katherine’s always beautiful home, and wow! There are three women who have designed and adorned the house with my favorite colors – pink and gold. Her mantle is arranged with beautiful peonies, there is even a pink instant camera, pink quartz! Heaven! We both agreed to hire a caterer and there she is in the kitchen, making the teeniest and cutest miniature versions of the things – like hummus cups in shot glasses.

She asks me to go downstairs to put a sign on the door that it’s open and to come on up. My brother and his fiancee arrive! My high school friends! And my girlfriend who came from her honeymoon! There are 14 people in her apartment hugging each other hello, drinking and noshing when all of a sudden we learn there has been a kitchen fire upstairs. 

Then a few big bangs on our door and enters a handsome, massive imposing firefighter with blue steely eyes. He is so serious! My god I was intimidated. I see his cover/hat and it’s the same ladder as Mike’s, and I ask, “Do you know Mike?”

“Y’know, Woody?” in his big Boston accent, he says he’s been detailed out. Then, my brother grabs me to come into a the office, off the main room. I hear, “Everything alright boys?” and there is my man, coming through the white curtains in his full bunker gear. Mike takes a small wooden box from his coat and gets down on one knee. His voice is trembling and he says, “You are my best friend, will you make me the happiest man, will you marry me?” I just keep nodding my head, saying yes and I give him a huge hug! And I put out my right hand – the wrong hand! Ha!

The first person I turn to see after Mike and my brother is his mum, his father, brother and sister and my parents and then holy smokes, my college friend from NYC. The most important people in my life.

And here it is, I met him when I was 16 and immediately knew then that there was something special about him. He is my soul mate, my love and my home. He grounds me, makes me the best version of myself – confident, daring and smart, and allows me to be myself, vulnerabilities and all.

I am so lucky to keep the company of such wonderful, generous and loving people who make magic! They brought me to the moon that night on a bed of stars.

Photography: First Mate Photography Co. | Event Design & Styling: Lauren Wells Events | Floral Design: Pollen Floral Design | Venue: Back Bay

Hyatt Regency Cambridge

If you’re anything like I was as a newly engaged bride-to-be, researching venues is a full-time job! But for you lucky New England couples, the search just may be over. Enter the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Overlooking the Charles River and featuring breathtaking Boston skyline views, this spot is a must see.

  

If a city wedding is your cup of tea, it just doesn’t get much prettier than the Hyatt Regency Cambridge. Boasting incredible 180-degree panoramic city views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the 16th floor Charles View Ballroom, there’s nothing not to like. Prefer an outdoor spot to say I do? They’ve got you covered with the Riverside Pavilion which can accommodate up to 150 guests in a gorgeous white tent with French windows, stunning chandeliers and a beautiful garden patio. No matter your style or taste as a couple, the Hyatt Regency Cambridge can make your wedding dreams a reality.

I’ll admit, I’m a little bit jealous of you New England couples right now! And now’s the time to book your big day at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, because you can enjoy free honeymoon nights at any Hyatt Hotels and Resorts location worldwide! From incredible tropical resorts to exciting city hotels in 45 countries around the globe, you can choose your perfect destination for your first trip as a married couple.  Simply book and hold your wedding at a participating Hyatt hotel by December 31, 2015 and you’ll earn Hyatt Gold Passport® bonus points redeemable for free nights with no blackout dates at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts worldwide.

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Sunday Brunch Wedding in Cambridge

This is one delicious affair I would’ve loved to attend. Morning vows followed by mimosas is as good as it gets, and for this Cambridge couple their West Bridge brunch was the perfect “I Do”. A sweet beginning snapped by Lucy Cuneo, their day was filled with freshly picked blooms by Celebrated Flower and classic J. Crew apparel. Catch the entire relaxed and refined celebration here.

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From the Bride… As soon as we started talking about what our wedding would look and feel like, we decided we wanted something low-key, unique, casual, and intimate. We selected the first Sunday afternoon in June, which turned out to be a gorgeous early summer day, which was perfect for our wildflower arrangements. The venue we chose was West Bridge Restaurant in Cambridge. It has a fun and funky industrial-like vibe, and we utilized the space to the fullest with a non-traditional chuppah draped over the non-traditional Edison bulb chandelier. The ceremony was brief, officiated by a family friend, with just our siblings sharing readings.

After the ceremony guests had the chance to eat delicious food, have summery drinks, and just hang out and enjoy the day. The meal was served family-style with farm-to-table entrees. Dessert consisted of warm chocolate chip cookies, homemade ice cream, and rhubarb tarts. Part of the planning fun was spending hours on Spotify picking songs that were both meaningful and celebratory. It was the perfect beginning to our happily-ever-after!

Photography: Lucy Cuneo Photography | Floral Design: Celebrated Flower | Attire: J.Crew | Restaurant: West Bridge

Chic Boston Wedding at MIT Chapel

As a resident New Englander, this effortlessly fabulous wedding captured by M. Davidson-Schapiro is filled with tons of Bostonian gems. Crafting a modern city wedding, these college sweetheards dubbed their day as “Beantown Big Day”, and with florals by Back Bay Florist filling the MIT Chapel, you better bet that their vision made for a pretty fabulous reality. See it all right here!

From Michelle of M. Davidson-Schapiro PhotographyWorking with Mareena and Reggie was an absolute dream. From the first emails we exchanged, their vision and personalities were clear. For their engagement photos, they chose to focus not only on their love story, but also on the love they have for their relatively new home, Boston. This idea translated well to their modern city wedding, dubbed Beantown Big Day in invites and on their wedding website, that started at the MIT chapel and headed across the river to Petit Robert Central downtown to get the party started. What a party! I could go on and on about Mareena and Reggie and how wonderful they are, but who better to tell their story than the bride herself?

From The Bride… Reggie and I met my freshman year at Florida A&M University. He was a junior, newly minted frat guy, and I was a newcomer on the FAMU yard. We were friends for 7 months before we started dating; the friendship stage was largely due to me playing hard to get, according to Reggie.

We became a solid unit over the four years we dated, mainly because in the very beginning of our relationship we agreed to allow our relationship to grow at its own pace, without any outside pressure. Being older than me, Reggie decided to pursue his master’s degree in Tallahassee, which allowed us to stay together and keep building our relationship. After four years together, it was time for me to graduate and go off to graduate school in Boston, and it was then that Reggie asked me to marry him. Since day one, Reggie has always made our relationship a priority, and never shied away from stepping up to the plate to be the man that I want, so saying ‘yes’ was an absolute no brainer. I knew I found ‘my one’.

As fiancés, we moved to Boston so I could start my doctoral program in nuclear engineering at MIT. Needless to say, we both had a lot on our plate, me getting oriented in my new school setting and Reggie working tirelessly to get his marketing start-up, Ghost Note Agency, off the ground. We decided to wait to get married until I passed my doctoral qualifying exam. Secretly, as the bride, I wasn’t looking forward to the wedding planning process, but once I passed my exam, Reggie and I agreed we would plan the wedding as a team. Really, I would be the captain and Reggie would be the coach, providing me the much-needed pep talks and context for those more stressful moments.

Going into the planning, we firmly decided that we would have the wedding we wanted. Neither of us are high maintenance, so we wanted a wedding that felt effortlessly fabulous, and focused on sharing this special occasion with those who are dearest to us. We knew we wanted to party, and highlight the big city personality of Boston, and we focused our planning on those elements at each step. Luckily our ‘effortlessly fabulous’ wedding aesthetic lent to our desire to keep a responsible budget. Since we are both in our mid-twenties, and currently building our lives, we wanted to be as clever as possible in achieving the looks that we wanted without breaking the bank.

Our wedding took place at the MIT Chapel, a cylindrical chapel with floor-to-ceiling brick, marble flooring, and an altar that is to die for. The simplistic elegance of the chapel blew us away, and was the perfect backdrop for our lifelong vows to one other. Following the wedding ceremony, guest made their way in true urban fashion, via cabs and Uber, to the cocktail hour and reception in downtown Boston at Petit Robert Central. During the planning stage, we knew the vibe of reception was an important part. We wanted it to feel like an epic club night with friends, so we knew the drinks had to be flowing and the music needed to be just right. This vision really motivated us in choosing Petit Robert Central as our reception spot. They had multiple rooms to choose from with pre-existing décor that made our planning process much easier. We chose the Provencal Room within Petit Robert Central, which offered us the ‘lounge vibe’, complete with a wall-length black leather couch, wood flooring, and a magnificent dark wood built-in bar from which the drinks were flowing!

When we got to the door of the reception, the love in the room was immediate. Everyone was so happy to see us happy and it truly was a special moment in our lives. Our DJ immediately got the party started and we danced like it was we were undergrads again  and like our grandparents weren’t in the room. We laughed, we joked, and on that day everything was right with the world. We had the wedding we wanted to have. Everything was perfect, and we are happy we did it our way.

Photography: M Davidson Schapiro Photography | Floral Design: Back Bay Florist | Wedding Dress: I Do I Do Wedding Gowns | Ceremony Venue: MIT Chapel | Reception Venue: Petit Robert Central | DJ: Adam "Mister Anybody" Carpenter | Groom's Attire: Milton's | Host Hotel: Le Meridien

How to Re-Wear Your Bridesmaid Dress

We’ve all been there. The wedding day has past, the bridesmaid duties are done and you’re left with a dress that’ll never again see the light of day. But thanks to our brand new Blogger Bride Jean of Extra Petite, re-styling that bridesmaid frock has never been easier. Along with Long Haul Films, she put together a must-watch, share and bookmark video that’ll give you WAY more wear for your buck.

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From Jean of Extra PetiteHi lovlies! I’m Jean, the blogger behind ExtraPetite.com, and a bride-to-be just starting out on the journey of wedding planning! On my blog I share styling tips for fellow shorter ladies, but I also post lots of shopping and outfit ideas for women of all shapes and sizes. I really love getting the most out of each item, which can be challenging with special occasion pieces like bridesmaid dresses. We all know that more often than not, these hang gathering dust after the wedding day. Well, I took one of my bridesmaids shopping at BHLDN, and we wanted to share a few ways to think outside the box with your formal dresses.

We tried on this knee-length dress by Jenny Yoo in a universally flattering flare shape. If you have a full-length bridesmaid dress that you love but not many fancy events on your calendar, consider hemming it shorter after the wedding to make it more versatile!

First up, we added a fun printed scarf in lieu of a typical solid wrap. A thin but eye-catching belt accentuates the waistline, and peep toe pumps are perfect for cooler weather. You can wear this look to other weddings as a guest, or it could be a cute autumn bridesmaid ensemble.

Next up, don’t be afraid to experiment with mixing + matching, whether it’s with different textures, prints, or casual vs. dressy pieces. Here we took a button-up chambray shirt and casually knotted it at the waist. Leopard pumps add a little pattern, and for an edgier night-on-the-town look, try layering a moto jacket on top of this pairing.

A lace topper is an easy and fabulous way to change up the look of a dress. Hairstyle and accessories can also make a big difference – we swept up her hair to show off the lace, and added chandelier earrings for a little glamour and color. This would be a beautiful look for a cocktail party during any season. Cropped tops were everywhere this year, and they’re not just for belly-baring tweens. I love layering shorter tops / sweaters over dresses because they show off the narrowest part of your waist, which keeps the look super flattering. This would be an adorable outfit for a photo shoot or playful engagement session.

Until next time! xoxo, Jean

Videography: Long Haul Films | Bridesmaid Dress: BHLDN | Chambray Shirt: Target | Lace Topper: BHLDN | Location: BHLDN | Striped Sweater: Forever 21 | Vendor: Extra Petite | White Lace Dress: BHLDN

These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
For membership information, click here

Jean Wang

SMP New England Welcomes Our Advertisers!

Let’s face it, scouting the perfect venue is the first thing on our wedding checklist and nestled above the cityscape of Boston lies an oasis called 9OFS. A calming contrast to the city below, 9OFS offers a flexible layout with awe-inspiring views. With an indoor-outdoor space that boasts an open-air terrace and roof top garden, take a peek below and it’s easy to see why we’re obsessed with this New England gem!

From 9OFS9OFS is an unparalleled indoor and outdoor event space located in the heart of downtown Boston. The location is comprised of three unique event spaces.

The Garden, our expansive open-air space, is complemented by a reflection pool, manicured lawn and flagstone pathways providing an exceptional view of Boston. From the unique and private roof top garden, your guests will be nestled in the dynamic cityscape and sparkle of bustling city life.

The Gallery, our modern and sleek interior space, that overlooks the Garden, offers an attractive backdrop for cocktails and dinner. Showcasing a sophisticated and elegant design, this space features beautiful white marble elements, a flexible floor plan, and floor to ceiling windows highlighting one of the best views in the city creating an indoor-outdoor feel.

The Loft, the newest space at 9OFS, completed in May 2014, features lustrous polished concrete floors, exposed ceilings and impressive views of the surrounding architecture and downtown Boston. This unique location is the perfect spot for a distinctive dinner or energetic cocktail party.

9OFS can currently accommodate up to 110 guests for ceremony, cocktails, dinner and dancing. We work with a wonderful group of exclusive caterers and other vendors such as florists and musicians to complete the picture of your most important day.

Welcome to the family 9OFS! xox